Spraying-free end cover structure of refrigerator door body

Abstract

The utility model relates to a refrigerator door spraying-free end cover structure which comprises a main shell, an integrally-formed groove is formed in the main shell, a protective lining is detachably installed in the groove and comprises a U-shaped body and two side plates rotationally installed on the two sides of the U-shaped body respectively, and when the protective lining is installed in the groove, the two side plates are close to each other to be closed. And the two side plates are arranged on the U-shaped body and form finger grooves for fingers to enter together with the U-shaped body, and when the protective bushing is detached from the groove, the two side plates are unfolded outwards and are flush with the long part of the U-shaped body. According to the door body end cover structure, the door body end cover structure is divided into two main parts, namely the main shell and the protective bush, the protective bush is detachably mounted in the groove in the main shell, stains generated by hand contact are only attached to the surface of the protective bush, and the stains can be conveniently and comprehensively cleaned by regularly detaching the protective bush, so that the safety of the door body end cover structure is improved. The problem that a traditional finger groove is difficult to clean is effectively solved.

Description

A refrigerator door end cap structure that does not require painting Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of refrigerator parts manufacturing technology, specifically a refrigerator door end cap structure that does not require painting. Background Technology

[0002] The refrigerator door end cap is a component installed at the top and bottom of the refrigerator door. It is usually made of materials such as plastic or metal. It has the functions of sealing the end structure of the door, protecting the internal components, and enhancing the door's sealing and stability. At the same time, it can also decorate and beautify the appearance of the door. It is an important part of the refrigerator door structure that combines practicality and decoration.

[0003] Refrigerator door end caps typically have grooves for fingers to enter. These grooves are often called finger grooves or door opening grooves. Users can enter the groove and hook their fingers onto the groove wall to apply force, making it easier to open and close the door. This is especially suitable for refrigerators with an embedded design.

[0004] When opening and closing the refrigerator door, hands frequently touch the inner walls of the finger grooves. Sebum, sweat, and food residue are left directly on these grooves, especially during cooking when oil from hands adheres even more readily. Simultaneously, condensation from the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the refrigerator keeps the inner walls moist, mixing with dust and food volatiles to form sticky stains. Over time, this leads to severe grime buildup in the finger grooves. However, the finger grooves are typically deep and narrow, with curved or angular edges, creating cleaning blind spots that are difficult to reach with conventional cleaning tools, making it hard to thoroughly clean the stains inside. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator door end cap structure that is easy to clean for finger grooves and does not require spraying, effectively solving the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution.

[0007] A paint-free end cap structure for a refrigerator door includes a main housing with an integrally formed groove. A protective bushing is detachably installed in the groove. The protective bushing includes a U-shaped body and two side plates rotatably mounted on both sides of the U-shaped body. When the protective bushing is inserted into the groove, the two side plates close together and form a finger groove with the U-shaped body for fingers to enter. When the protective bushing is removed from the groove, the two side plates unfold outward and remain flush with the elongated part of the U-shaped body.

[0008] Furthermore, the protective bushing also includes two shafts. The U-shaped body is integrally formed from an elongated part and two side parts located on both sides of the elongated part. The width of the elongated part is smaller than the width of the side parts. The two side parts are close to each other and have mounting holes on both sides of the elongated part. The two shafts are arranged parallel to the elongated part. The two ends of the shafts are rotatably installed in the corresponding mounting holes. Torsion springs are fitted at both ends of the shafts. One end of the torsion spring is fixed to the inner wall of the mounting hole, and the other end is fixed to the outer wall of the shaft. The two side plates are fixedly fitted onto the corresponding shafts.

[0009] Furthermore, both sides of the outer side plate are integrally formed with buckles, and the two inner walls of the groove are provided with slots. When the protective bushing is inserted into the groove, the buckles are locked into the slots one by one.

[0010] Furthermore, both sides of the elongated section are chamfered, and the side plates near the elongated section are provided with a second sloping surface.

[0011] Furthermore, both sides of the plates have a first sloping surface on the side away from the buckle. When the two sides approach each other and close to form a finger groove, the cross-section of the two sides and the elongated part is funnel-shaped.

[0012] Furthermore, each of the two side plates has a handle fixed to the side away from the buckle, and a clearance space is formed between the handle and the first slope surface on the same side for fingers to enter.

[0013] Furthermore, when the protective bushing is fully installed into the groove, the ends of both sides and the end faces of both side plates are flush with the end face of the main housing.

[0014] Furthermore, the edge of the main housing is integrally formed with multiple mounting feet, each with a fastening hole.

[0015] Furthermore, the main casing has a clearance notch at one of its corners.

[0016] Furthermore, the main housing is made of ABS material.

[0017] The ABS material, calculated by weight, includes: 100 parts ABS resin, 0.2 parts antioxidant 1076, 0.3 parts antioxidant 168, 0.3 parts lubricant, 1 part aluminum powder, and 0.1 parts colorant.

[0018] The specific steps for fabricating the main shell using ABS material are as follows:

[0019] S1. Mix ABS resin, antioxidant 1076, antioxidant 168, lubricant, aluminum powder, and color powder at 500 rpm for 20 minutes to obtain a mixture;

[0020] S2. The above mixture is added to a twin-screw extruder and melt-extruded and granulated to obtain the above ABS material;

[0021] The temperatures of each section of the twin-screw extruder are 170-180℃, 210-220℃, 210-220℃, 200-210℃, and the screw speed is 450 rpm.

[0022] S3. The above-mentioned ABS material is injection molded into the main shell using an injection molding machine.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows.

[0024] The door end cover structure is divided into two main parts: the main shell and the protective bushing. The protective bushing is detachably installed in the groove on the main shell. The stains generated by hand contact only adhere to the surface of the protective bushing. By periodically removing the protective bushing, it is easy to thoroughly clean the stains, effectively solving the problem of traditional finger grooves being difficult to clean.

[0025] When the protective bushing is removed from the groove, the torsion spring causes the two side plates to unfold outward and remain flush with the elongated part. The flattening structure eliminates the deep and narrow and angular structure of the traditional finger groove, reduces cleaning dead corners, and improves cleaning convenience and cleaning effect.

[0026] The buckles on the outer sides of the two side panels engage with the slots on the inner wall of the groove, ensuring that the protective bushing is securely installed in the groove. At the same time, the handle on the side of the side panel away from the buckle makes it easy for the user to grip and operate. When removing the protective bushing, the user can squeeze the handle to move the side panels closer together and disengage the buckle from the slot, which ensures stability during use and facilitates disassembly and cleaning.

[0027] The side of each side plate away from the buckle has a first sloping surface. When the side plates are closed to form a finger groove, the cross-section of the side plates and the elongated part is funnel-shaped. This structure helps guide the finger into the finger groove and improves the user's operating experience. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0029] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure shown in Figure 1 from another perspective;

[0030] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

[0031] Figure 4 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point A in Figure 3;

[0032] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the partial structure shown in Figure 1;

[0033] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the protective bushing forming the finger groove;

[0034] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the U-shaped body in this utility model;

[0035] Figure 8 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point B in Figure 7;

[0036] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure unfolded after the protective bushing is disassembled.

[0037] In the diagram: 1. Main housing; 101. Clearance notch; 11. Groove; 12. Slot; 13. Mounting foot; 14. Fastening hole; 2. Protective bushing; 21. U-shaped body; 211. Side part; 212. Long part; 2121. Chamfer; 22. Side plate; 221. First slope; 222. Second slope; 23. Shaft; 24. Mounting hole; 25. Torsion spring; 3. Buckle; 4. Handle; 41. Clearance space. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0039] In the description of the embodiments of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection" and "installation" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a detachable connection or a non-detachable connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "connection" can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. "Fixed" means that the relative positional relationship remains unchanged after the connection. The directional terms mentioned in the embodiments of this utility model, such as "inner," "outer," "top," and "bottom," are only for reference to the directions in the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for better and clearer explanation and understanding of the embodiments of this utility model, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this utility model.

[0040] In this embodiment of the invention, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. Example 1

[0041] Please refer to Figures 1-9. The present invention provides a refrigerator door end cap structure that does not require painting, including a main shell 1. The main shell 1 has an integrally formed groove 11. The main shell 1 has a hollow cavity surrounding the groove 11. One corner of the main shell 1 has a clearance notch 101 that matches the groove for installing the end cap structure on the refrigerator door.

[0042] In addition, the edge of the main housing 1 is integrally formed with multiple mounting feet 13, each mounting foot 13 having a fastening hole 14. The fastening hole 14 is compatible with the fastening screw. When the end cover structure is installed into the slot on the refrigerator door, the mounting foot 13 is inserted into the mounting hole on the slot, and then the fastening screw is inserted into the fastening hole 14 and tightened to fix the end cover structure to the refrigerator door.

[0043] In addition, when this end cap structure is installed on the upper door of the refrigerator, the opening of the groove 11 faces downward, and when it is installed on the lower door, the opening of the groove 11 faces upward, which facilitates opening and closing the door.

[0044] A protective bushing 2 is detachably installed in the groove 11. That is, after the protective bushing 2 is installed in the groove 11, it can be manually removed. The protective bushing 2 includes a U-shaped body 21 and two side plates 22 respectively rotatably installed on both sides of the U-shaped body 21. When the protective bushing 2 is installed in the groove 11, the two side plates 22 approach each other and close, forming a finger groove with the U-shaped body 21 for the fingers to enter.

[0045] The U-shaped body 21 and the two side plates 22 respectively cover the four inner walls of the groove 11, meaning that the hand directly contacts the surface of the side plates 22 and the U-shaped body 21. Stains formed will also adhere to the surface of the U-shaped body 21 and the side plates 22. By periodically removing the protective bushing 2 from the groove 11, the stains can be easily cleaned. Example 2

[0046] Please refer to Figures 3-8. The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is as follows:

[0047] The protective bushing 2 also includes two shafts 23, and the two side plates 22 are respectively fixedly fitted onto the corresponding shafts 23;

[0048] The U-shaped body 21 is integrally formed from an elongated part 212 and two side parts 211 located on both sides of the elongated part 212. The width of the elongated part 212 is smaller than the width of the side parts 211. The two side parts 211 are close to each other and are located on both sides of the elongated part 212, and mounting holes 24 are provided respectively. The two shafts 23 are arranged parallel to the elongated part 212. The two ends of the shafts 23 are rotatably installed in the corresponding mounting holes 24. The rotatable installation of the shafts 23 in the mounting holes 24 provides the rotation capability for the side plate 22.

[0049] Secondly, torsion springs 25 are fitted at both ends of the shaft 23. One end of the torsion spring 25 is fixed to the inner wall of the mounting hole 24, and the other end is fixed to the outer wall of the shaft 23. The torsion spring 25 provides elastic restraint force for the shaft 23.

[0050] As shown in Figures 3 and 6, buckles 3 are integrally formed on the outer sides of both side plates 22, and slots 12 are provided on the two inner walls of the groove 11. When the protective bushing 2 is inserted into the groove 11, the buckles 3 are correspondingly engaged in the slots 12.

[0051] The elongated part 212 is first inserted into the groove 11. As the insertion depth of the elongated part 212 increases, the two side plates 22 are pushed closer to each other under the pressure of the corner of the groove 11. At this time, the torsion spring 25 stores force.

[0052] When the buckle 3 and the slot 12 are aligned, the torsion spring 25 is used to pull the side plate 22 to rotate and reset. The buckle 3 will be aligned and snapped into the slot 12, and the entire protective bushing 2 will be snapped and fixed to the inner wall of the groove 11, thus completely protecting the installation of the bushing 2.

[0053] In addition, each of the two side plates 22 is fixed with a handle 4 on the side away from the buckle 3. When disassembling the protective bushing 2, by pinching the two handles 4 and bringing them closer together, the two side plates 22 are brought closer together, so that the buckle 3 is released from the slot 12 and the buckle is released, and the protective bushing 2 can be removed from the groove 11 as a whole.

[0054] As shown in Figure 4, both sides of the elongated portion 212 are provided with chamfers 2121, and the side plates 22 near the elongated portion 212 are provided with second slope surfaces 222. The second slope surfaces 222 and chamfers 2121 on the same side have a form and position matching to avoid motion interference between the side plates 22 and the elongated portion 212 when rotating, thereby ensuring that the two side plates 22 can get too close to each other so that the buckle 3 can be disengaged from the slot 12.

[0055] Furthermore, when the protective bushing 2 is removed from the groove 11, the elastic restoring action of the torsion spring 25 causes the two side plates 22 to unfold outward until they are flush with the elongated portion 212, as shown in Figure 9. This flattening structure reduces cleaning dead angles and improves cleaning quality. Example 3

[0056] Please refer to Figure 3. The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 2 is as follows:

[0057] Both sides of the side plate 22 facing away from the buckle 3 have a first slope surface 221. When the side plates 22 close together to form a finger groove, the cross-section of the side plates 22 and the elongated part 212 is funnel-shaped, with a small-to-large spatial layout that helps guide the fingers into the finger groove. In addition, as shown in Figure 6, a clearance space 41 is formed between the handle 4 and the first slope surface 221 on the same side, which facilitates the fingers to enter between the side plate 22 and the handle 4 to exert force to turn the handle 4.

[0058] In addition, when the protective bushing 2 is fully installed into the groove 11, the end faces of the two side edges 211 and the two side plates 22 are flush with the end face of the main housing 1, ensuring the flatness of the refrigerator door end, reducing uneven structure and improving aesthetics.

[0059] It is worth noting that the torsion spring 25 in this application is a stainless steel wire with a diameter of 1.0mm, an effective number of coils of 6, and a free angle of 180°. The initial torsion angle is 60°, and the pre-torsion during installation is 120°. Testing shows that it can provide 0.4 N·m of torque when the side plate 22 is closed, and can resist a vibration impact force of 15N, thus preventing disengagement due to door opening and closing vibrations, ensuring the secure installation of the protective bushing 2. Furthermore, the disassembly operation requires only 25N of force, which is relatively effortless. In addition, through a certain number of door opening and closing cycle tests, the torque decay rate of the torsion spring 25 is less than 15%, preventing disengagement due to plastic deformation after long-term use. Example 4

[0060] The main housing is made of ABS material.

[0061] The ABS material, calculated by weight, includes: 100 parts ABS resin, 0.2 parts antioxidant 1076, 0.3 parts antioxidant 168, 0.3 parts lubricant, 1 part aluminum powder, and 0.1 parts colorant.

[0062] The specific steps for fabricating the main shell using ABS material are as follows:

[0063] S1. Mix ABS resin (LG Chem 181), antioxidant 1076, antioxidant 168, lubricant (EBS), aluminum powder, and colorant (BASF) at 500 rpm for 20 minutes to obtain a mixture;

[0064] S2. The above mixture is added to a twin-screw extruder and melt-extruded and granulated to obtain the above ABS material;

[0065] The temperatures of each section of the twin-screw extruder are 170-180℃, 210-220℃, 210-220℃, 200-210℃, and the screw speed is 450 rpm.

[0066] S3. The above-mentioned ABS material is injection molded into a main shell sample using an injection molding machine. The main shell sample has a tensile strength of 40 MPa, a flexural strength of 63 MPa, and a flexural modulus of approximately 2250 MPa.

[0067] The main shell 1, made of the aforementioned ABS material, has a strong metallic texture and high gloss, effectively replacing paint spraying and significantly reducing manufacturing costs.

[0068] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within this invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A paint-free end cap structure for a refrigerator door, comprising a main housing (1), characterized in that: The main housing (1) has an integrally formed groove (11), and a protective bushing (2) is detachably installed in the groove (11). The protective bushing (2) includes a U-shaped body (21) and two side plates (22) respectively rotatably installed on both sides of the U-shaped body (21). When the protective bushing (2) is inserted into the groove (11), the two side plates (22) close to each other and form a finger groove with the U-shaped body (21) for the fingers to enter. When the protective bushing (2) is removed from the groove (11), the two side plates (22) unfold outward and remain flush with the elongated part (212) of the U-shaped body (21).

2. The refrigerator door end cap structure without paint coating according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protective bushing (2) also includes two shafts (23); the U-shaped body (21) is integrally formed from the elongated part (212) and two side parts (211) located on both sides of the elongated part (212); the width of the elongated part (212) is smaller than the width of the side parts (211); the two side parts (211) are respectively provided with mounting holes (24) on the side that is close to each other and on both sides of the elongated part (212); the two shafts (23) are arranged parallel to the elongated part (212), and the two ends of the shafts (23) are respectively rotatably installed in the corresponding mounting holes (24); the two ends of the shafts (23) are fitted with torsion springs (25), one end of the torsion spring (25) is fixed to the inner wall of the mounting hole (24), and the other end is fixed to the outer wall of the shaft (23); the two side plates (22) are respectively fixedly fitted on the corresponding shafts (23).

3. The refrigerator door end cap structure without paint coating according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both side plates (22) have snap fasteners (3) integrally formed on their outer sides; both inner walls of the groove (11) are provided with slots (12); when the protective bushing (2) is inserted into the groove (11), the snap fasteners (3) are correspondingly engaged in the slots (12).

4. The refrigerator door end cap structure without paint coating according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both sides of the elongated portion (212) are provided with chamfers (2121); the side plate (22) near the elongated portion (212) is provided with a second slope surface (222).

5. The refrigerator door end cap structure without paint coating according to claim 3, characterized in that: Both side plates (22) have a first slope surface (221) on the side away from the buckle (3). When the two side plates (22) come close to each other to form a finger groove, the cross-section of the two side plates (22) and the elongated part (212) is funnel-shaped.

6. The refrigerator door end cap structure without paint as described in claim 5, characterized in that: Both side plates (22) are fixed with a handle (4) on the side away from the buckle (3), and the handle (4) and the first ramp surface (221) on the same side form a clearance space (41) for the fingers to enter.

7. The refrigerator door end cap structure without paint coating according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the protective bushing (2) is fully inserted into the groove (11), the end faces of the two side portions (211) and the two side plates (22) are flush with the end face of the main housing (1).

8. The refrigerator door end cap structure without paint as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The edge of the main housing (1) is integrally formed with multiple mounting feet (13), and each mounting foot (13) has a fastening hole (14).

9. The refrigerator door end cap structure without paint coating according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main housing (1) has a clearance notch (101) at one of its corners.

10. A refrigerator door end cap structure without paint coating according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main housing (1) is made of ABS material.

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